Primary races settled this week reflect the underlying divide in the Maryland's minority party, pitting Republicans who stand on conservative principle against those who are willing to be more pragmatic as the underdogs in a blue state.
In some cases...

At least six General Assembly incumbents were trailing opponents after early primary returns Tuesday evening — but many incumbents were turning back tough challenges.
With early results reported from polls across the state, state Sen. James...

Gov. Martin O'Malley vetoed a bill Friday that would have halted a huge wind energy project on the Eastern Shore, prioritizing renewable energy over the concerns of a major military installation in Southern Maryland.
In his veto message, O'Malley said...

Acting Natural Resource Secretary Joseph P. Gill's confirmation as the department's permanent chief appears back on track. A Senate committee Monday approved Gill's nomination after he apologized for remarks that angered watermen and vowed to work on...

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Rep. Elijah E. Cummings urged state lawmakers Monday to raise Maryland's minimum wage to $10.10, arguing that lower wages will continue to strain government programs that help the poor.
The Baltimore Democrat added his voice to a chorus of Democratic leaders backing Gov. Martin O'Malley's proposal, which would increase the minimum hourly rate from $7.25 and tie future wage hikes to the rate of inflation.
Speaking at a hearing of the Senate Finance Committee, Cummings said workers who earn the...

Harford County State Sen. Barry Glassman, who is running for Harford County Executive, is sponsoring legislation in this Maryland General Assembly session that will allow individual counties to set their own minimum wage rates, subject to enforcement by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation.
The so-called County Choice Minimum Wage Bill was announced at a joint press conference last week by Glassman and Washington County Del. Neil Parrott, sponsor of an identical House version....

Gov. Martin O'Malley enjoyed a rare occasion of bipartisan goodwill Friday as he ventured to the Eastern Shore to announce almost $160 million in long-awaited transportation projects to a region that has not given him much love in his statewide campaigns.
The governor traveled to the Talbot-Caroline county line to announce he had given the green light to begin construction of a $50 million replacement of the 81-year-old Dover Bridge over the Choptank River starting next summer. He also highlighted two...

Richard F. Colburn Photos

A generational shift within the Maryland Republican Party picked up steam Tuesday as a veteran GOP senator called an end to her legislative career and a conservative favorite launched an audacious challenge to an incumbent Democratic congressman.
State Sen. Nancy Jacobs, one of Maryland's longest-serving Republican lawmakers, said she will not seek re-election in 2014 — adding to the attrition of the GOP's small band of senators in Annapolis.
Jacobs, 61, who represents Harford and Cecil counties,...

The governor's bill to repeal Maryland's death penalty survived a key vote Friday in the state Senate.
After an emotional debate, senators voted 27-19 to defeat an amendment that would have kept capital punishment for murders committed along with other serious crimes.
"It's an excellent harbinger for us," said Sen. Jamie Raskin, the floor leader for the pro-repeal forces.
After the vote, the Senate paused its debate on the bill, which if passed would make Maryland the 18th state to eliminate the...

The Senate paused its debate of a bill that would make Maryland the 18th state in the nation to eliminate the death penalty after advocates of repeal won a key test vote.
Senators voted 27-19 Friday to reject an amendment that would have created an exception to repeal for especially heinous murders.
Supporters of death penalty repeal expressed confidence that they have enough votes to defeat all the other amendments expected to be offered when the Senate resumes debate Monday. And they expressed...